‘Banging’ heard in search for missing Titanic tourist submarine with less than 24 hours of oxygen left – live
Follow live updates on the lost OceanGate Expeditions submersible with five onboard including British billionaire Hamish Harding
Rescuers race against clock after noises heard from Titanic vessel search area
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There are now less than 24 hours of oxygen left in the missing Titan submersible as rescue efforts continue for the five divers.
A Canadian aircraft searching for the sub in the Atlantic Ocean detected intermittent “banging” noises from the vicinity of its last known location.
The crew searching for the missing sub heard banging sounds every 30 minutes on Tuesday and again four hours later, after additional sonar devices were deployed.
However, Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard who is leading the search, said that “we don’t know the source of the noise”.
CEO and founder of OceanGate Expeditions Stockton Rush, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood are on the OceanGate Expeditions’ submersible, Titan.
The watercraft submerged on Sunday morning from its support vessel to travel to the Titanic wreckage which sits at a depth of 12,500ft. About an hour and 45 minutes later, the Titan lost contact with its mother ship, the Polar Prince, authorities said.
The Titan is equipped with a four-day emergency oxygen supply. It is estimated that the five missing passengers have less than 24 hours of oxygen supply left inside the vessel.
The US Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard are involved in rescue efforts.
Coast Guard to hold press conference at 1pm
The US Coast Guard Northeast said they will hold a press conference at 1pm EST on Wednesday (21 June) to update the public on the missing submersible with five people onboard.
Captain Jamie Frederick of the US Coast Guard will lead the press conference.
Ariana Baio21 June 2023 16:00
Weather conditions today are windy
The US Coast Guard said weather conditions in the remote area they are searching for the missing submersible had winds of 23 miles per hour and gusts of up to 30 miles per hour.
The ocean has swells of six to seven feet.
Visibility was thought to be improving on Wednesday (21 June) as prior days were hazy.
Ariana Baio21 June 2023 15:45
WATCH: Friend of missing diver Hamish Harding describe his friend as “the quintessential British explorer”
Missing tourist submarine likely ‘stuck’ under Titanic propeller, says Hamish Harding’s friend
Ariana Baio21 June 2023 15:30
More assets en route to search and rescue
The US Coast Guard has more assets en route to the search area where the Titan submersible may be missing including several Canadian ships and research vessels.
In a statement, posted on Tuesday (20 June) the Coast Guard listed the number of new assets.
Vessels:
- Canadian CGS John Cabot
- Canadian CGS Ann Harvey
- Canadian CGS Terry Fox
- Canadian CGS Atlantic Merlin (Remotely Operated Vehicle)
- Motor Vessel Horizon Arctic
- Commercial Vessel Skandi Vinland (Remotely Operated Vehicle)
- French research vessel L’Atalante (Remotely Operated Vehicle)
- His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Glace Bay
The Glace Ship contains a decompression chamber and medical personnel aboard as well.
Ariana Baio21 June 2023 15:15
Missing Titanic submarine: Timeline of how events unfolded as search for tourist submersible continues
“I am proud to finally announce that I joined OceanGate Expeditions for their RMS TITANIC Mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic,” Mr Harding wrote.
“Due to the worst winter in Newfoundland in 40 years, this mission is likely to be the first and only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023. A weather window has just opened up and we are going to attempt a dive tomorrow.”
His chilling final post before the mission was the last time the world heard from him.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain21 June 2023 14:50
'Vile' Titanic submarine memes show social media at its worst
Every now and then, there’s an element of online discourse that reminds you how much of a cesspit social media is.
The search for the OceanGate Expeditions submarine is one of them.
Ever since a craft containing five people went missing on a journey to observe the wreckage of the Titanic on Sunday, our timelines have been full of people making light of the situation - they must be seeing a very different news story to the one we’re seeing.
Read more here:
'Vile' Titanic submarine memes show social media at its worst
Every now and then, there’s an element of online discourse that reminds you how much of a cesspit social media is.The search for the OceanGate Expeditions submarine is one of them.Ever since a craft containing five people went missing on a journey to observe the wreckage of the Titanic on Sunday, ou...
Maryam Zakir-Hussain21 June 2023 14:40
Three expert theories on fate of missing sub
The Titan, built and operated by an undersea adventure tourism company called OceanGate Expeditions, remained missing as of Wednesday morning. There are five people onboard: OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, renowned French river Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman.
Although we still don’t know what might have happened to them, experts have cohered around three basic scenarios, none of which are good news for the crew – or their families.
Io Dodds has more.
Holly Evans21 June 2023 14:01
OceanGate CEO complained about ‘obscenely safe’ regulations
The founder of the company which operates the missing Titanic tourist submarine complained about “obscenely safe” regulations holding the industry back years before he found himself at the centre of disaster.
As of Wednesday, the vessel is believed to have less than 24 hours of oxygen supply, as rescue teams race against the clock to bring the Titan back to the surface.
Maanya Sachdeva has more.
Holly Evans21 June 2023 13:59
The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, said that the people of the emirate are praying for the “hopeful return home” of the five passengers onboard the missing Titan submersible.
He wrote on Twitter: “While search teams are working hard to rescue passengers of the OceanGate Submarine: Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman, Paul-Henry Nargeolet, and Stockton Rush; Dubai and its people pray for their safety and hopeful return home.”
“We are following the updates anxiously and are unified in our prayers for them and their families during these difficult times.”
British billionaire Hamish Harding who is onboard the vessel lives in Dubai.
The Crown Prince of Dubai tweeted that the emirate was praying for the Titan passengers “safety”
(Getty Images)
Holly Evans21 June 2023 13:43
“Rudimentary toilet” believed to be on Titan sub
While few details are known about the conditions of the submersible, accounts from people who have previously visited the Titanic say that food and water is available for passengers.
The BBC also reports that a “rudimentary toilet” can be used.
It is estimated that there is less than 24 hours left of oxygen on the sub as rescue efforts continue to search in the area.
A “rudimentary toilet” is believed to be available on the sub
(OceanGate Expeditions)
Holly Evans21 June 2023 13:38